Broomfield Blues 2024
Sunday 4 August until Sunday 25 August 1.30pm - 5.30pm
Broomfield Bowl, Broomfield Park, N13 4PZ
The Friends of Broomfield Park and the St Harmonica's Blues Club bring you another 'best of blues'. Come along and eat, drink and listen to the music.
Entry each Sunday is free to all.
Palmers Green and Southgate play host to one of North London's top Blues clubs - St Harmonica's, located at the Southgate Club N14 5EN. Together with our generous sponsors Winkworth, the Southgate Club, Ralph Hutchings and Phil Davison, St Harmonica's Blues Club along with the Friends of Broomfield Park are delighted to bring you another August full of the best in local, national and international Blues.
Broomfield Blues is our annual celebration and showcase of what can be found every Friday evening at St Harmonica's Blues Club, twice finalists in the UK Blues Awards 'Venue of the Year' category. Each Sunday afternoon during August come along to the park to eat, drink and listen to three hours of some of the best Blues music London has to offer.
We firmly believe that live music should be accessible and affordable and thanks to our sponsors we are able to maintain these as free events, open to all. If you like what you hear all we ask is that you acknowledge that with a voluntary donation into the collection "hat", either when it does the rounds or via the Control site. We've picked some excellent local hot food providers for your added enjoyment and a very fine bar run by Richard Reeve of the Little Green Dragon to complete your enjoyment.
Read, enjoy and come along to as many of the four concerts as you can. Unless the weather is absolutely shocking we will certainly be there each Sunday; and if the weather does let us down we will endeavour to relocate the music to the Southgate Club itself, home to St Harmonicas, a few minutes' walk, or bus ride away in Southgate just 50 metres from Southgate Underground Station.
Each afternoon is preceded by a one hour "open mic" session at 1:30 offering a stage to up and coming as well as experienced performers. Do support them.
Cover photo of Ralph T Hutchings by David March.
Who's on when?
Week 1- Sunday 4th August - St Harmonica's Blues
1:30 - 2:30 OPEN MIC SESSIONS
2:30 - 3:30 HOUSE RED
House Red is the house band from the award nominated St Harmonicas Blues Club. An outstanding band led by the powerful vocals of Chrissie Thomas (likened to the late, great Ottilie Patterson) and driven by John Crowther's immaculate guitar playing, with Simon Bennett on keyboards, Les Cole on drums and Dave Thomas on bass. House Red deliver a vintage and eclectic blend of rocking and soulful blues. These are the people that make the local blues scene happen!
3.45 - 5.30 THE BLUES CHAPTER
The Blues Chapter are probably the finest young Blues band in London They are certainly the most popular band we've ever put on at St Harmonica's. Comprising Sky Wood on vocals, guitar and harmonica. Jesse Thomas on sizzling, hot shot guitar and Jacob,'Professor Redhair' Thomas on keys and piano. You'll see shades of Gary Moore, SRV and Joe Bonamassa in their repertoire. A great festival band and, along with House Red, a superb way to start the 2024 Broomfield Blues Series.
All timings approximate.
Week 2 - Sunday 11th August - Chicago Blues with Twang
1:30 - 2:30 OPEN MIC SESSIONS
2:30 - 3:30 THE CUSTOMTONES
Martin Fieber is perhaps the UK's best kept slide secret. He brings his hugely talented band the Customtones, one of the finest and tightest units around, to Broomfield. Martin is not known as the Sultan of Slide for nothing, he makes all his own guitars under his 'Customtone' label and the tone and the sound he achieves is staggering, master of the twang sound. Some of his original material is equally wonderful. The rest of the band too are all masters of their instruments, with Mick Parker on drums, Terry Duggan on bass and Steve Taylor on keyboards. By the way, the sun always shines when the Customtones play.
3:45 - 5:30 DOC K'S BLUES BAND
There are some who say that Doc K's Blues Band are the finest purveyors of Chicago Blues in the capital; they are certainly one of the longest running. Formed in Muswell Hill in 1966, and just like Trigger's broom, Doc K has seen many new handles and heads but it is still the same band! Mad Dog Dave Barnes has been a constant presence in the band for more than 40 years. Dave has just about the finest voice in UK Blues, and plays a mean slide guitar too. He is joined up front by Chris Hargrave, vocals and harmonica. And for the first time in it's history Doc K boasts a genuine MD in the form of former neurologist Dr Ika on lead guitar. Mick Parker and Dave Thomas provide the groove. This is authentic blues at its very best.
All timings approximate.
Week 3 - Sunday 18th August - Skiffle, Blues & Soul
1:30 - 2:30 OPEN MIC SESSIONS
2:30 - 3:30 THE LONDON BONNEVILLES
Formed in 2016 to be the 'house band' and part of the cast of the award winning show One Man Two Guvnors, the London Bonnevilles have become one of the most popular acts on the summer festival scene, having played festivals, clubs and theatres throughout London, Hertfordshire, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. This band will take you right back to when Skiffle was king with a unique musical style featuring tight vocal harmonies and songs from Lonnie Donegan, Chuck Berry, and the 60s together with original material written and produced in the style of the time all to create a party atmosphere for all ages
3:45 - 5:30 THE ODYSSEY BLUES AND SOUL BAND
A good time is guaranteed for all as we have the Odyssey Blues and Soul Band in the house to entertain you and get you moving. With the indomitable Malcolm Hine on lead guitar and the irrepressible Tony Beagley on vocals, keys and saxophone, the band is an experienced and inspired solid gold Soul and red hot rocking Rhythm and Blues quartet - paying respect to Soul greats like Sam and Dave, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Marvin Gaye, and Rhythm and Blues giants such as the Blues Brothers, Los Lobos and T-Bone Walker. The Odyssey Blues & Soul Band delivers smash hits from the fabulous sixties and seventies eras. The audience reaction and reviews are always fantastic wherever the band plays. All times approximate.
Week 4 - Sunday 25th August - Roots to Electric, with Jugs!
1:30 - 2:30 OPEN MIC SESSIONS
2:30 - 3:30 HOPPERSTOMP
Put Ruth Mignano and Dave Buckwell of That Blue Patch together with the guitars. mandolins and vocals of John Crowther and Pete Abernethy's percussion skills and it adds up to a riot of musicality that faithfully represents those old stomping sounds and works outwards. John Crowther also plays the jug to add authenticity.
3.45 - 5.30 THE BLUES DIRECTION ELECTRIC BAND
A relatively new band on the block but containing very experienced musicians put together by Mike Fulke under the musical direction of Saul Minaee. The Blues Direction Electric Band play funky, uplifting versions of blues classics, adding a few originals to get you up and dancing! A perfect ending to the 2024 Broomfield Blues series and one that we hope will turn you on to the Blues and exploring what is on offer at St Harmonica's Blues Club every week.
PGC cannot guarantee that all What's On information is 100% accurate. If in doubt, contact the organisers.
Show map
Broomfield Bowl, Broomfield Park, N13 4PZ
